Grand Elk Golf and Club opens May 11

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A golf course dependent on the support of its members for its 2012 season will indeed open.

A soft opening of the Grand Elk Golf Course is scheduled for today, May 11, and a grand opening is set to take place on May 25.

In a membership drive launched by golf-course owner Pam Lacy, Grand Elk Golf met its financial goal, she said. "The original goal was 80 members, but I was able to reach the financial equivalent of 80 by having some vendors relieve some of the burden," Lacy said. "We lowered our expectations by meeting the goal in creative ways."

Lacy has subsidized the golf course and club for the past two years to the tune of a little more than $500,000. Memberships revenue was meant to generate $120,000, or roughly 18 percent of the golf course budget, according to Lacy.

In anticipation of meeting financial goals to open the course, Maintenance Superintendent Jennifer Flores has been hard at work to make the greens and fairways looking manicured. "Last year many members gave us the compliment that our course had never looked better, and we intend to get the same comments this year," she said.

New general manager and head professional Mike Rus, of Phoenix, a member of the Touchstone Golf team, has been on board since April and plans to move to Granby for the season.

Touchstone Golf Team is the management firm that has overseen club operations since 2010. "We are looking forward to welcoming the entire community this season, and we will be promoting the friendliness of our staff that has made a difference in the feel of this Club" said Rus. "We permit jeans and the staff will be wearing them for the grand opening to emphasize our commitment to casual yet professional. Our mission is to make everyone feel welcomed and to have the best experience possible."

Grand Elk Golf Course is the only course in Grand County not subsidized by property-tax dollars. The Grand Elk Golf Club ended up under investor ownership after financial hardships caused by the recession resulted in poor real-estate sales and minimal membership activity for the original Grand Elk Ranch and club developers.